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Canon Pixma MP530
only £145.68 from

In the case of the PIXMA MP530, this is a Canon All-in-One device that is capable of providing scan, copy and fax capabilities along with its prime function of colour printing.  You also get ADF (Automatic Document Feed) functionality and the ability to print labels direct to CD/DVD media via a supplied add-on tray.

The MP530 is certainly an impressive, if somewhat substantial, piece of kit measuring, as it does, 468 x 467 x 263 (W x D x H) and weighing in at 12.8Kg.  Decked out in grey and black with a highly polished, reflective fold-over flap for the ADF and a gold-coloured surround on its centrally mounted LCD, the MP530 does tend to dominate the workspace even when it is not in use.  I would have liked to comment on the ease, or otherwise, of installing the print head and ink tanks but the review model was supplied with these items already in situ.  All that was left for me to do was to install the various items of software before connecting the unit via USB 2.0.

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Installing the software proved to be slightly problematic and caused me to switch systems.  On my original choice, installing the software, consisting of drivers and various utilities and applications including Easy-PhotoPrint, OmniPage SE, CD-LabelPrint and Presto! PageManager, was interrupted as Microsoft PowerPoint suddenly loaded itself for no apparent reason.  Shortly afterwards an error message regarding the driver appeared.  Fortunately switching to a second system produced a trouble-free installation which included instructions as to when to connect the MP530 to a free USB port.

A protruding lip, running along most of the front of the device, holds the various controls.  There are buttons to scan, fax and copy.  You can adjust basic print settings; switch between the front and rear paper input trays; and use an alphanumeric key pad for dialling purposes.  An LCD provides feedback as to the current task and settings.  Positioned just above this control panel are the flat-bed A4 scanner and ADF unit.

The MP530 has two paper input options which can each hold up to 150 sheets depending upon paper type.  In addition the ADF can hold 30 sheets when multi-page documents are involved.  Both PictBridge and duplex printing are supported.  You also get a self-assemble tray unit, which slots into a compartment in the paper output, for printing labels onto CD and DVD media.

When copying documents you can specify borderless copies and opt to have one, two or four documents per page.  The flatbed scanner is capable of 1200dpi while the fax feature includes 40 speed dial settings and a 150-page memory for storing incoming documents.

Canon has rated the MP530 at up to 29ppm for monochrome and 19ppm colour.  My tests revealed less impressive figures.  A 102-word monochrome document only managed 17ppm while a small colour image printed at 14ppm.  Printing a full A4 colour image took 93 seconds in standard mode.  This increased to 189 seconds when using the high quality setting.  Print quality, in all cases, was of a reasonably acceptable standard that should be more than sufficient for most eventualities.  While the actual printing process, using a variety of paper types and sizes, was quiet, the same could not be said for paper handling which was a little on the noisy side.

The PIXMA MP530 would suit a home office or small office environment that required copy, print, scan and fax features.  Pricing for the MP530 starts at around £180 while replacement cartridges cost £11.99 for black with colour cartridges costing £9.99 per unit.

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Multifunctionals/Multifunctionals/PIXMA_MP530/

The Pixma MP530 is available for £145.68 from DABs :

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=40R6

and from Amazon for £152.66 :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000EZMO4G